EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Pollution
Prevention and Toxics
(74O9)
EPA742-F-99-01 6
January 8, 1999
FACT SHEET
VOLUNTARY PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
AMERICAN HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION TO
REDUCE HOSPITAL WASTE
MISSION
Work in voluntary partnership with the American
Hospital Association and its member hospitals to:
»• Virtually eliminate mercury waste generated
by hospitals by 2005;
> Reduce overall hospital waste volume by 33
percent by 2005, and 50 percent by 2010; and
> • Jointly identify additional substances to target
for pollution prevention and waste reduction
opportunities.
BACKGROUND
Medical waste incinerators are the fourth largest
known releasers of mercury to the environment,
constituting approximately 10 percent of all
emissions sources, and hospitals are responsible for
producing one percent of the total municipal solid
waste hi the entire country.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in
an effort to protect the American people and the
environment, has been working hi recent years to
reduce mercury releases into the environment. For
example, EPA recently wrote new air regulations
targeting mercury reduction from medical waste
incinerators, and have been working to stem mercury
releases through the 1997 Canada-U.S. Binational
Toxics Strategy.
The American Hospital Association (AHA) is a
national organization that represents and serves nearly
5,000 hospitals, health care networks, and their
patients and communities. On June 24, 1998, the
AHA and the EPA, in consultation with Healthcare
Without Harm, a group representing 80 NGOs,
reached this landmark agreement.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE
Establishment of an Environmental Leadership
Council (ELC), whose mission is to provide overall
leadership in the implementation of the MOU. The
ELC is composed, of leaders from the healthcare
industry, other medical community stakeholders,
non-profit advocacy organizations, medical
equipment suppliers, waste handlers, as well as local,
state, and federal governments. The first meeting of
the ELC took place on October 13, 1998, at AHA
headquarters in Chicago.
NEXT STEPS
The ELC is convening a number of workgroups,
which will help the partnership achieve its goals.
The workgroups include, but are not limited to:
*• Baseline data collection;
»• Model Mercury Virtual Elimination Plan;
*• , Model Comprehensive Waste Reduction
Plan;
*• List of other substances to be addressed by
the partnership;
> Educational seminars;
*• Awards program; and
*• Clearinghouse of best practices and service
providers.
Workgroup nominations have been finalized as of
January 14, 1999. The next ELC meeting is
scheduled for February 1999 in Washington, D.C.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
EPA Contacts:
Holly Elwood - phone: (202) 260-4362;e-mail:
elwood.holly@epa.gov; fax: (202) 260-0178, or
Chen Wen - phone: (202) 260-4109; e-mail:
wen.chen@epa.gov; fax: (202) 260-0178
AHA Contact:
Kathy Svedman - phone: (312) 422-3861, email:
ksvedman@AHA.org. fax: (312) 422-4572
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